So, everything is hooked up and running beautifully. I have a temporary rack set up while I get everything finalized for the new rack to be built. This old kitchen bakers rack works out pretty well though.

I haven't been able to play too much with it. I have the tuner hooked up and other than that all I have is a digital signal running to it so far. I had the CT-6 pre hooked up to it before and it was definitely less forgiving with sub-par recordings. I am, hopefully going to be picking up a new Rega RP-1 turntable within the next week or so. Hopefully I can really test out the sonic abilities of this system then. I cannot complain one bit though. Who could with with a complete Lightstar setup. The remote works perfectly, by the way. Thanks again Kingman.

A little update for ya. Took my parasound pre and EQ down to my local favorite shop today. They gave me a decent amount for the units in store credit. With that and the store credit I already had I brought home a Rega RP-1 TT today. It is hooked up, albeit with a cheap phono pre, and my vinyl is sounding fantastic. I am currently listening to Kings of Leon double LP 180 gram Come around Sundown.

Built my new rack this past weekend. It's not completely finished yet. I still need to trim some length off the top of the threaded rods. I love the look of it and the amount of space it provides is just what I needed. Got the Bellari VP130 phono pre on loan from the shop. I like the sound so far. Detailed mids with a good lower frequency presence. Any way here's some eye candy for you all. Keep on rockin....

Sweeet, Nate! Like the threaded rod(?) and nut/washer design. Simple, yet easy and effective! (looks like the "leg" ends just screw on as well?). Just curious: any reason (other than design esthetics, etc.) for the "bolts" to stick up as far as they do on the top shelf? (edit: oops, Ed, read the ENTIRE post! ). Could recess the top nuts and washers using a router (using a thin nut!) and then plug or fill the "hole"...but that would "un-simplify" the build a bit (and also complicate the "tear-down" of these shelves/EC for moving them). And I really like that aspect (the EC I built is completely held together via gravity and I can diss-assemble it into its component parts in like 5 minutes...so I see the advantage). Just curious... Ed